Transmission system

ABSTRACT

An exemplary transmission system (TS) includes a clutch module (CM) having an input (In) and a first and a second output (O 1 , O 2 ). A first clutch device (B, B 1 , C 2 ) provided with a first actuator is present between the first output and the input, and a second clutch device (C, B 2 ) with a second actuator is present between the second output and the input. The transmission system also includes a transmission module (TM), with an output (Out) and a first and a second input (i 1 , i 2 ). A first partial transmission provided with at least one transmission (VAR) is present between the first input and the output, and a second partial transmission provided with at least one further transmission or a mechanical connection is present between the second input and the output. Two outputs (O 1 , O 2 ) of the clutch module are connected to the two inputs (i 1 , i 2 ) of the transmission module.

TECHNICAL FILED OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a transmission system comprising:

-   -   a clutch module having an input and a first and a second output,         wherein between the first output and the input, a first clutch         device provided with first actuating means is present, and         between the second output and the input a second clutch device         with second actuating means is present, and     -   a transmission module, with an output and a first and a second         input, wherein between the first input and the output, a first         partial transmission provided with at least one transmission is         present, and between the second input and the output a second         partial transmission provided with at least one further         transmission or a mechanical connection is present,     -   in which the two outputs of the clutch module are connected to         the two inputs of the transmission module.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Such a transmission system is generally known.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to improve the known transmission system. To this end the transmission system according to the invention is characterized in that:

-   -   the transmission system comprises a short-circuit clutch, which         is present between the two outputs of the clutch module and/or         the two inputs of the transmission module, and     -   the transmission inside the first partial transmission is         continuously variable within a specified transmission range.

For embodiments of the transmission system according to the invention, reference is made to the appended claims.

The invention further relates to a transmission system for a vehicle, comprising an input, which can be connected to a drive source, and an output, which can be connected to a load, comprising:

-   -   a transmission provided with a transmission housing with a first         input shaft and an output shaft connected to the output, wherein         a first switchable speed transforming gear is present between         the first input shaft and the output shaft,     -   a clutch with a first clutch part, which is connected to the         input, and a second clutch part, which is connected to the first         input shaft of the transmission, and     -   a planetary gear with at least three rotational members of which         a first rotation body is connected to the input, and a second         rotation body is coupled to the output,     -   wherein the transmission further comprises a second input shaft,         wherein between the second input shaft and the output shaft a         second switchable speed transforming gear is present, and         wherein the second rotational member of the planetary gear is         connected with the second input shaft.

With respect to this transmission system, the invention is characterized in that a third rotational member of the planetary gear is connected to an electric motor.

An embodiment of this transmission system is characterized in that the third rotation body is further connected to a brake.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-12 show embodiments of a transmission system according to the present invention.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show further embodiments of a transmission system according to the present invention, for rear wheel drive.

FIGS. 15-31 and 33 show yet further embodiments of a transmission system according to the present invention.

FIGS. 32 and 34 show still further embodiments of a transmission system according to the present invention, having a variable speed drive, for example a cone-ring variable speed drive.

FIGS. 35-45 show still further embodiments of a transmission system according to the present invention, comprising a clutch.

FIGS. 46 and 47 show still further embodiments of a transmission system according to the invention, which according to these figures is a 6/7 speed transmission having a brake and a clutch, as well as a single lay-shaft.

The invention will be further elucidated below on the basis of drawings. These drawings show embodiments of the transmission system according to the method in the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIGS. 1 to 4 embodiments of the transmission system according to the invention are shown. In these embodiments the variable speed drive may be mechanical, hydraulic, electrical, or as a combination of these.

Examples of mechanical variable speed drives are:

-   -   a pulley variable speed drive with push belt or chain,     -   a cone-ring variable speed drive with two cones and a ring,     -   a planetary gear with at least three rotational members of which         a third rotational member can support torque to the fixed world         via actuating means.

In these embodiments:

-   A=drive source -   L=load -   TS=transmission system -   In=input of transmission system -   Out=output of transmission system -   CM=clutch module -   O1, O2=outputs of clutch module -   TM=transmission module -   i1, i2=inputs of transmission module -   C, C1=clutches -   B,B1,B2=brakes -   P=planetary gear set -   VAR=variable speed drive -   T1, T2=first and second partial transmissions -   I, I1, I2, I11, I22=speed transforming gears -   S=short circuit clutch -   S1, S2, SR, S11, S22=transmission clutches -   IF=final speed transforming gear -   IR=reverse speed transforming gear -   EM=electric motor

In FIG. 2 the transmission clutches S1 and S2 are optionally.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show an embodiment of the transmission system.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a further embodiment of the transmission system. In the partial transmission which is present between the second input O2 and output Out or in the final transmission IF a reverse gear IR is present. By actuating brake B it is possible to drive from stand still in both forward and rearward directions. The variable speed drive VAR will not be used in that case. When switching from the brake to the clutch drive torque remains present. When the clutch is closed and the brake is open the variable speed drive is still not used.

Now the claw coupling and/or synchronizer S can be decoupled and S1 can be closed. By switching back again from the brake to the clutch drive can be performed via the variable speed drive and the higher gears can be realized. Thus there are two toothed gears with which driving from stand still is possible and the 3^(rd) gear and higher gears (3-10) can be realized with the variable speed drive. Because of this an extremely large ratio coverage can be achieved. In addition, the variable speed drive can be much smaller (RC between 3 and 4).

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a further embodiment of the transmission system. In the partial transmission which is present between the second input O2 and output Out or in the final transmission IF a reverse gear IR is present. By actuating brake B it is possible to drive from stand still in both forward and rearward directions. The variable speed drive VAR will not be used in that case. When switching from the brake to the clutch drive torque remains present. When the clutch is closed and the brake is open the variable speed drive is still not used.

Now the claw coupling and/or synchronizer S can be decoupled and S1 can be closed. By switching back again from the brake to the clutch drive can be performed via the variable speed drive and the higher gears can be realized. Now switching from clutch to brake can be performed so that the ratio coverage can still be increased. Thus there are two toothed gears with which driving from stand still is possible and the 3^(rd) and 4^(th) gears can be realized with the variable speed drive. Because of this an extremely large ratio coverage can be achieved. In addition, the variable speed drive can be much smaller (RC between 2,5 and 3,5).

FIGS. 11 and 12 show still a further embodiment of the transmission system. In the partial transmission which is present between the second input O2 and output Out or in the final transmission IF a reverse gear IR is present. Gear wheels of the partial transmission or the final transmission IF are part of the reverse gear.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show an embodiment of the transmission system for rear wheel drive.

FIGS. 15 to 30 show further embodiments of the transmission system. The variable speed drives of the transmission systems shown in FIGS. 20 and 22 have an input and an output which are concentric/coaxial and the input and output have the same direction of rotation.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 32 and 34 the variable speed drive is such that it changed the direction of rotation is (for example a cone-ring variable speed drive). This saves one toothed gear reduction.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 35 to 45 the transmission system comprises a clutch C2.

The transmission system shown in FIGS. 46 and 47 is a 6/7 speed transmission having a brake B and a clutch C and a single lay-shaft. In total there are 13 gearwheels and a planetary gear set which constitute 8 forward gearwheels, 3 reverse gearwheels, 2 final drive gearwheels and 6 synchronizers (incl. reverse). Electric motor EM is an electric motor-generator which is connected to the third rotational member (sun wheel) of the planetary set. Preferably the electric motor is connected to the sun wheel by means of a chain drive or gear wheel drive. The brake B is optionally because the electric motor EM—when large enough—is also able to support the torque of the combustion engine. With the electric motor EM and the planetary set a so called electric variable transmission is created with which steples scan be switched between ratio's in the transmission. Brake B can be added, for example in line with the shaft of the electric motor EM in case the electric motor is small. The brake B can be a claw to the fixed world of a force closed friction clutch. The electric motor EM is preferably parallel with the shafts of the transmission outside the housing of the transmission. With the electric motor also transmission clutches can be synchronized or synchronization can be supported.

Although the present invention is elucidated above on the basis of the given drawings, it should be noted that this invention is not limited whatsoever to the embodiments shown in the drawings. The invention also extends to all embodiments deviating from the embodiments shown in the drawings within the context defined by the claims. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A transmission system comprising: a clutch module having an input, a first output, and a second output; a first clutch device provided with first actuating means between the first output and the input, and between the second output and the input is a second clutch device with second actuating means; a transmission module, with an output and a first input and a second input, wherein between the first input and the output a first partial transmission is provided with at least one transmission, and between the second input and the output a second partial transmission is provided with at least one further transmission or a mechanical connection; wherein the first and second outputs of the clutch module are connected to the first and second inputs of the transmission module; a short-circuit clutch, which is present between the first and second outputs of the clutch module and/or the first and second inputs of the transmission module; and wherein the transmission inside the first partial transmission is continuously variable within a specified transmission range.
 2. The transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission within the first partial transmission has been carried out electrically.
 3. The transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission in the partial transmission is constructed as a planetary gear provided with at least three rotational members, of which a first rotation body forms the input of the transmission, a second rotation body forms the output of the transmission, and a third rotation body is connected to an electric motor that can be operated both as a motor and as a generator.
 4. The transmission system according to claim wherein the transmission in the partial transmission is carried out hydraulically.
 5. The transmission system of claim 1, further comprising a speed transforming means present between the input and the first output.
 6. The transmission system according to claim 5, wherein the speed transforming means is embodied as a mechanical transmission.
 7. The transmission system according to claim 5, wherein the speed transforming means are designed as a bypass transmission that includes a planetary gear train provided with at least three rotational members, of which a first rotation body is connected to the input a second rotation body is connected to the first output, and a third rotation body is connected to the first clutch device.
 8. The transmission system of claim 1, wherein the first clutch device and/or the second clutch device is designed as a brake.
 9. The transmission system according to claim 8, wherein the brake is formed by a claw clutch, or by a friction brake.
 10. The transmission system of claim 3, wherein the first and/or second clutch device is constructed as an electric motor comprising a stator and a rotor, wherein the stator is fixed and the rotor is connected to one of the at least three rotational members.
 11. The transmission system of claim 1, wherein the second clutch device is formed by a clutch which is present between the input and the second output of the clutch module.
 12. Transmission system according to claim 11, characterized in that the second clutch device is formed by a claw clutch, or by a friction clutch.
 13. The transmission system of claim 1, wherein the first clutch device is formed by a friction brake, and the second clutch device is formed by a friction clutch.
 14. The transmission system of claim 1, further comprising a first transmission clutch is present between the first output of the clutch module and the output of the transmission system.
 15. Transmission system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a second transmission clutch is present between the second output of the clutch module and the output of the transmission system.
 16. The transmission system of claim 1, further comprising a speed transforming gear present between the first output of the clutch module and the output of the transmission system.
 17. The transmission system of claim 1, wherein one or both of the first and second clutch devices and/or the short-circuit clutch is/are constructed as a claw clutch and/or synchroniser.
 18. The transmission system of claim 3, wherein the transmission system comprises an electric motor which is coupled or can be coupled with one or more of the at least three rotational members.
 19. The transmission system of claim 3, wherein a transmission ratio of a speed transforming means of the clutch module is chosen such that it is slowing down to the first or second output of the clutch module in case the first clutch device is braked.
 20. The transmission system of claim 1, wherein the most reducing transmission gearing of the transmission module is present in the second partial transmission. 